Fun with Real Estate Fraud

My old roomie Alain is looking for a new house and encountered a real estate fraudster. You could of course report those imposters to the police, or ignore them, or... have some fun with them through a senseless email conversation!

I am Peter Kleinert and I just received an email of interest in my apartment located in Leon Colinslaan 4/0402, 3000 Leuven. I am an German researcher working for a pharmaceutical company . I am the only owner of the apartment, it is paid in full and it has no legal problems . The apartment has not been inhabited since I am no longer living in Leuven.
I wish to rent my apartment to some nice and responsible people and in order to do that I have to know a some details about you, like how many persons are you planning to live in the apartment, for how long, if you have a steady income, etc. I must tell you from the beginning that I do not have a problem if you are a student and I am very fond of pets and willing to accept them in the apartment(I am the proud owner of an english bulldog). You should also know that I appreciate sincerity very much.
In addition to everything else here is a little something about the apartment and myself so we can get to know each other.
The apartment is the one in the pictures from the advertisment.I have the option of sending all my furniture into storage if you want to bring your own (no extra costs)
The rent for 1 month is 500 EURO (for the entire apartment) including all utilities (water, electricity, Internet, cable). You can rent the flat for any period of time (open end contract) but not less than 3 months.
About myself, I am 52 years and as I told you I am a researcher in pharmaceutical products, currently living in London.
You can move in the apartment in the same day when you receive the keys. The only issue is that I am already in United Kingdom but I hope that together we are going to find a solution.
I appreciate your interest in my property and I am looking forward to a future collaboration and friendship.
I send you some pictures and all details with my apartment!

Best regards
Peter Kleinert

BEDROOMS : 2
Master bedroom has a marble en-suite bathroom with shower and marble washbasin. The main bathroom is beautifully decorated with marble and limestone has a large bath tub, shower and toilet. The bathrooms are fitted with superior fittings and feature extensive use of marble and limestone. There is also a separate guest toilet with a small hand basin.
Flat screen TV, fully air conditioned with three independent zones which can be controlled individually, DVD player, stereo unit, spare DVDs and CDs, a small library.

Thanks for your reply,
That sounds great !
You seem to be a very nice person and I can assure you we will not have any problems .Like I have inform you before, the price you shall pay for 1 month of rent will be 500 euro and i want aslo one month guarantee deposit 500 euro ( the guarantee deposit 500 euro you will receive back when you leave the apartment ), with no extra taxes to pay. The money, I want to revive it monthly to my bank account, so I hope it will be no problem for you to wire the money .

Of course you will have to see the apartment before discussing further details . I am willing to send you the keys so you can visit it and see it suits your needs.The delivery for the keys and viewing permit (signed by me), will be made with TNT to make sure that we can trust each other.
I will explain the procedure if you are interested so please email me as soon as you read this message because I really need to take care of this matter.

The price is 500 EURO included all utilitites.
First of all , I want to tell you that if you are ready to proceed with this transaction I will need to inform you the steps about how this service works
You will have 2 days to inspect the apartment before your final decision to rent . I will pay the shipping costs.

This is how they work :

1) I will make the delivery papers at TNT . After that I will send you a copy of my passport .

2) After I will make the papers for delivery they will require for your payment confirmation of the first month and the guarantee deposit(500 EUR + 500 EUR= 1000 EUR) to the company .TNT will send you a delivery notification to let you know they have the Keys and the papers in their custody .
Also TNT will give you further instructions about the money deposit .

3) After the payment is confirmed the delivery process will start and when you will receive the keys, you will have 2 days inspection period before your final decision to rent .

4) If all is in order, you will instruct TNT to give me the money. Further rents will be sent directly to my bank account.

5) If you refuse to rent the apt , TNT will give you a full refund (1000 EUR) and you will give them back the keys and the contract.

If you are interested to rent the apt please send me your information, so i can make the deal:

As I am very interested in the apartment, I will wire you the 1000 euro's as soon as possible. If needed, I can also pay for the first 3 months in advance to make sure we have a deal, but I have little doubt as you seem a very trustworthy person. A copy of my passport and all necessary documents and money will be sent to you tomorrow, as soon as my bank opens.

However, I have one final question.

As I am currently engaged in my doctorate in agricultural studies, I would have to conduct several experiments over the course of the year. As a researcher you will no doubt be aware of the shortage of lab space at the KUleuven at the moment. Therefore I was hoping to conduct several experiments at home.

Would it be a problem to keep 15 chickens in the apartment?

Pets were allowed, so I'm hoping this will not be a problem. I would even be willing to raise the rent with fifty euro's if needed, as this is VITAL to my research.

Thanks for your reply,
That sounds great ! No problemt for your chickens
You seem to be a very nice person and I can assure you we will not have any problems .Like I have inform you before, the price you shall pay for 1 month of rent will be 500 euro and i want aslo one month guarantee deposit 500 euro ( the guarantee deposit 500 euro you will receive back when you leave the apartment ), with no extra taxes to pay. The money, I want to revive it monthly to my bank account, so I hope it will be no problem for you to wire the money .

Of course you will have to see the apartment before discussing further details . I am willing to send you the keys so you can visit it and see it suits your needs.The delivery for the keys and viewing permit (signed by me), will be made with TNT to make sure that we can trust each other.
I will explain the procedure if you are interested so please email me as soon as you read this message because I really need to take care of this matter.

My chickens and I and very happy. I'm very much looking forward to doing business with you.

As my doctorate will take several years to complete, I was wondering if it might be possible to sign a 9 year-contract?

Next year, I will enter phase 2 of my experiments and I was wondering if you would object to a pig or small cow living in the apartment.
I can assure you that these animals are very well behaved and will not damage anything. If needed I can replace any furniture, with added expenses for your troubles.

It would also be possible to keep the cows drugged during their stay, if you would feel more comfortable with this.

First of all , I want to tell you that if you are ready to proceed with this transaction I will need to inform you the steps about how this service works
You will have 2 days to inspect the apartment before your final decision to rent . I will pay the shipping costs.

This is how they work :

1) I will make the delivery papers at TNT . After that I will send you a copy of my passport .

2) After I will make the papers for delivery they will require for your payment confirmation of the first month and the guarantee deposit(500 EUR + 500 EUR= 1000 EUR) to the company .TNT will send you a delivery notification to let you know they have the Keys and the papers in their custody .
Also TNT will give you further instructions about the money deposit .

3) After the payment is confirmed the delivery process will start and when you will receive the keys, you will have 2 days inspection period before your final decision to rent .

4) If all is in order, you will instruct TNT to give me the money. Further rents will be sent directly to my bank account.

5) If you refuse to rent the apt , TNT will give you a full refund (1000 EUR) and you will give them back the keys and the contract.

If you are interested to rent the apt please send me your information, so i can make the deal:

I've just contact TNT.
Did you received the confirmation from them? Please check all your email folders.
I have sent you a copy of my passport. I paid the shipping fees.
TNT its waiting for you to transfer the 1000 EUR to their agent in order for them to begin the delivery at your address. When you will be able to transfer the money to them ? I must inform the TNT. As soon as you confirm the payment to TNT they will start the shipping of the keys.

NOTE: The transfer commission at Western Union is around of 3%-7%. i give you a useful advice, in case you are asked by the Western Union agent for the purpose of the transfer, you can specify that you send the money to a friend, because they carge an additional 10% for commercial purposes transfers

You need to take the money cash 1000 euro and go to an Western Union office and make a money transfer to agent TNT. After the transfer is done, you will receive a scanned document, send the scanned document from Western Union to my in e-mail.
Please visit www.westernunion.com

I take my research VERY seriously. As these are groundbreaking experiments in DNA-splicing, it is IMPERATIVE that they can be conducted in a stable environment.

Since you are a researcher too, I thought you would understand the sensitive nature of my research. The results from my chicken-monkey hybrids could possibly hold the cure for many plagues and diseases.

If you are not able to assure me that I can keep the apartment, then I will have to reconsider your offer.

...

And possibly notify the police if you do not answer this email within the next 15 minutes.